Appropriate for Austin's hot July weather, member Sharon Weintraub did a program on antique dolls dressed in bathing suits. She explained that although sea bathing was long considered to have curative powers, beginning in the Victorian era, with the rise in the middle class and leisure time, trips to the beach became more merry than medicinal. The 40-hour workweek and public transportation brought weekend trips to the beach within the reach of many working class families. Doll companies reflected their era by offering dolls in the latest style of swimwear
This 17-inch tall French fashion doll models an antique doll-size bathing suit from the 1860s or 70s. Such dolls were the Barbie dolls of their day, and their exquisite and costly wardrobes included every article of accessory or clothing a proper lady would need in her trousseau, including a demure, but fashionable, bathing suit for a visit to the beach. Her two-piece bathing suit, consisting of a long tunic top and full trousers, is beautifully tailored of canvas with wool ribbon trim. Typically, such bathing suits were made from wool, serge, or flannel. All the buttons, even on her cuffs, are fully functional. The snood, stockings, and leather slippers are far newer than the suit itself, but are appropriate for the period. The doll herself has a bisque swivel head on a matching shoulder plate and a kid body. She wears her original mohair wig, which perfectly matches her eyebrows. Although marked only "4" on her shoulder plate, she is attributed to the French manufacturer Masion Jumeau. Her exaggerated elongated almond-shaped eyes, dubbed "wrap around" by collectors, are typical of early Jumeau fashions.
In 1878, Elie Martin, patented a mechanical "poupee nageuse" (swimming doll), marketed as Miss Ondine. The doll must have been popular, as she was produced in some form through the early 1900s. Sharon displayed two versions, an earlier example with a French fashion head and a later version with a Simon and Halbig head, mold #1079. Both dolls wind underneath with a key, moving their arms and legs in a frog-like breaststroke. Sharon told members that their cork bodies were advertised as waterproof and capable of floating in water, but she has never dared to try it. The French Ondine is unusual because she has a bisque breastplate; Sharon explained that typically the head was mounted on a cork and the bathing suit sewn shut around the neck (as is the case with the Halbig version). The plate is not simply a shoulder plate that was cut in half, but was clearly molded this way, as all the edges are finished. The lady has a cork pate and is only marked "2" on the back of her head. The Halbig swimming doll wears her original silk swimsuit, once blue, but now faded to ecru. Later or cheaper models had bisque heads from lesser German companies or celluloid heads.
Sharon shared a number of little German all-bisque dolls in molded bathing suits. She explained that although many collectors think that these dolls are dressed in their undergarments, they are actually outfitted for a day at the beach.
The Black girl in her original striped bathing suit is an early all-bisque doll by Simon and Halbig. The little girl in the pink swim attire by her side is an all-original character doll by Gebruder Heubach on a composition slender body. She is incised on back of head “8192 Germany Gebruder Heubach 11/0.”
In front of her is a little all-bisque girl seated in her beach chair; jointed only at the shoulders, this little girl is molded into a sitting position. She is made from pre-colored bisque, meaning that the slip already has a pink or skin tone. Originally, the slip used for bisque dolls was white and the complexion coat had to be padded on and refired. Beginning around WWI, some German companies began using a precolored slip. Incised on the back "771 Germany,” she is from the German firm of Hertwig and Company. Not only did this firm extensively use precolored bisque for its all-bisque dolls, bathing beauties, and similar novelties, Hertwig was a whiz at using inexpensive materials to make an attractive presentations. There was a lot of competition between German doll companies, each trying to come up with cost-effective ways to make their items more eye-catching to the consumer. Hertwig often cleverly clad its dolls in a few scraps of cheap material to make them more appealing. The molded hair loop holding a miniature rayon ribbon bow is typical of Hertwig, as is the little mesh bathing suit. The chair, which actually folds, is another example of Hertwig's imaginative use of inexpensive material to make its merchandise more marketable. A few slats of lightweight wood and a thin strip of colorful material create a cunning toy chair that certainly would appeal to little girls, yet be inexpensive enough so that most parents could afford to be indulgent. The chair is faintly stamped “Germany.” Typically, Hertwig produced boy and girl pairs, so perhaps she has a male counterpart in his own little lounge.
Also of precolored bisque from Hertwig is this pair of all-bisque chubby toddlers are dressed in their original net bathing suits, trimmed with matching ribbon.
Inside her original box labeled "Bathing Girl,” the doll in the striped attire doll wears in her original bathing suit and matching cap, trimmed with silky bows. Marked "Heubach Kopplesdorf 250-17/0 Germany," and 6.5 inches tall, in her day, she was a rather inexpensive play doll, but sweet and pretty enough to catch a little girl's eye and win her heart. Sharon said that dolls such as this may have been sold in seaside souvenir shops, alongside the lithographed tin sand pails and wood-handled fish nets. This little blond beach babe is also still tied into her original box and wears her original pale blue mesh bathing suit and matching cap. Her painted eyes and closed mouth suggest that she was an even less expensive souvenir than the Kopplesdorf doll. The back of doll's head is incised with an intertwined "W&S," the mark of the German firm of Walther and Sohn, and "Made in Germany."
Members brought a wide variety of darling dolls in sun or swim attire to share.
Jenell Howell brought this vintage Vogue Ginny in a green polka dot sunsuit and her little playmate, an Alexander-kin by Madame Alexander. An all-original Number 1 Barbie, complete with her stand, babysits while an all-composition Scootles by Rose O'Neill wants to join in the fun.
Member Bette Birdsong shared this trio of Ginny dolls, all dressed for a day of fun in the sun.
The Terri Lee doll with her personalized inner tube also belongs to Bette. Standing next to her is a porcelain Shirley Temple doll by Danbury Mint belonging to member Sylvia McDonald and in front of Shirley is another doll from Sylvia, designed by Helen Kish. The sophisticated sun worshipper in the striking aqua and navy ensemble is a vintage Dollikin belonging to member Myrna Loesch.
The Cabbage Patch doll dressed as an Olympics swimmer for Team USA also belongs to Myrna. The other two dolls were shared by guest Joey Gomez. The doll in the lilac bathing suit is Fanfan, a contemporary fashion doll from France. The seated doll in bright blue is a Neo Blythe.
Ann Meier shared this sweet little Betsy McCall.
